The phenomenon of an electric car floating on water seems strange at first. But, battery-powered vehicles don’t have an exhaust pipe—which is what causes problems for gas-powered cars. If the driver takes a foot off the accelerator while driving through water, the exhaust can flood and cut the engine. With electric vehicles, you also don’t have to worry about water getting into the engine, since there is no air intake.

However, whether you have a electrical or gasoline powered car, swimming with cars is still not recommended. Although the battery pack and various other parts are sealed in the Model S, there are other complications that make water submersion risky. For instance, electric vehicles use high-tech lithium batteries, which are highly flammable upon contact with air or water.